Louver construction



April 2, 1935. E' A MADER 1,996,340

LOUVER CONSTRUCTIOIN Filed June 18, 1934 f77??? Maier llatcerited Apr.2, 1935 f 1,996,340 LoUvEn coNs'rRUc'rroN PATENT ori-"uns Emil A. Mader,Detroit, Mich., assigner of onehalf to John Spargo, Detroit, Mich.

Application June' 1s, 1934, serial No. '131,061

6Clalms.

An object of the invention is to interconnect a set of Ventilatinglouvers to swing in unison,

and to utilize their interconnection in closed position, against apping,rattling or opening, under wind pressure.

Another object is to mount a set of louvers on pivot rods and to provideimproved means for journaling the rods in a frame and maintaining theirlubrication over a long period of use.

These'and various other objects the invention attains by theconstruction hereinafter described, and illustrated in Ithe accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the louver construction showing a closedposition of the louvers.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, showing the louvers open.

Fig. `3 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the louvers closed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2 and particularly showing a provision for journaling andlubricating the pivot rods.

In these views, the reference character I designates a frame preferablyof steel angle bar construction, forming a rectangular opening, withinwhich a set of horizontally elongated sheet metal louvers `2 are pivotedone above another. Each louver is mounted on a cylindrical pivot rod 3,terminally journaled upon the uprights of said frame, and hasits uppermarginal portion rolled to form a sleeve l extending from end to end of'l' acting with said ply to grip a strip of felt 1 Vor other sounddeadening material, extending the full length of the louver. Said stripprojects sufficiently downward beyond the portion 8 to seat against thefront upper. portion of an underlying'louver, when the louvers areclosed. The felt pad 'I upon the lowermost louver.' seats .y against thebottom member of the frame I, when the louvers are closed. Marginally ofthe opening of the frame I, the

latter, by virtue of its angle bar construction has a forwardlyprojecting ange 8,'to which is se- 5 cured a sheet metal weather strip9. Said strip is secured at its forward and rear margins to the iiange 8by screws Ill or the like, and is spaced toward the louvers from saidange between said margins as best appears in Fig. 4. Preferably 10 theforward 'margin of said weather strip is hooked over and riveted to thecorresponding edge portion. of the ange 8, as indicated at II.

'I'he end portions of the rods 3 are journaled in eyelets I2 secured insuitable openings of l5l said weather'strip, and project beyond saideye- ,lets into terminal proximity .to the flanges 8, so that the latterserve to' longitudinally position said rods.

Proper lubrication of the rod journals is maintained over a long periodof time by elongated strips I3 of felt or the like, dipped in oil andinserted in the space between the weather strip and ange 8.

At the rear of the louvers, the weather strips are bent transversely tothe flanges 8 to project some distance into the frame opening, asindicated at I4, and are then bent back at amore acute angle, as at I5,to engage said flanges at their rear margins. Thus the strips form aguard to intercept any rain, moisture or dust which may be carriedinwardly past the closed louvers. 'I'he portions Il and I5 formenlargements of the space between the weather strip and iiange 8 and itis preferred to fold the lubrieating strips I3 several times within,said en largements so as to substantially ll the same, the resiliencyof theustrips consequently exerting a forward pressure on their portionsengaging the rods 3 tov insure effective contact with the latter.

Preferably small oil openings I5a are formed in the upper end portionsof theweather strips inthe walls I5 thereof, whereby lubrication ofv thestrips I3 may be renewed, if desired.

The two lowermost louvers are connected .for actuation in unison by asheet metal link I6, and a similar (but longer) link I1 connects al1 butthe. lowermost louver, for alike purpose. Said links pivotally engagesheet metal brackets I8 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the'louvers at corresponding ends thereof. Said brackets have` triangularportions projecting forwardly from thelouvers, the links being pivotedto said portions` at their apices, which 63 are substantiallyequidistant from the top and bottom edges of the louvers.

In the closed position of the louvers, the link l I6 connecting the twolowermost thereof, has a very slight rearward inclination from bottom totop. Thus if a gust of wind exerts an upward force upon the lower edgeportions of the closed louvers, tending to swing them open, the link I6,because of its slight relative angularity to the link I'I, resists suchtendency, and the louvers are held from .p rattling and prevented fromadmitting drafts through the frame'opening.

In use of the described construction, the frame I may be suitablysecured within a ventilating opening in a wall `(now shown) in opposedrelation to the outlet of a fan (not shown) serving tc discharge airoutwardly through said opening. Normally the louvers assume, of theirown weight, the closed position shown in Figs. l and 3, and they areadapted to automatically open under pressure of the discharge from thefan, when the latter is operated.

The felt strips 'I noise due to closing of the louvers, or due to anyslight vibration thereof, 'occurring in their closed positions.

Lubrication effected by the felt strips I3, as initially installed, willordinarily be adequate for the entire life of the installation, althoughrelubrication of said strips, mayas aforesaid, be readily eifected, ifdesired.

The construction lends itself to rapid assembly and establishes a'neiiicient weather seal between the closed louvers and frame.

The invention is submitted as including all such modiiications andchanges as come within the scope of the following claims.

` What I claim is:

l. A louver construction comprising a frame formed with an opening, aplurality of rods extended within and across said opening, one aboveanother, and journaled at opposite sides of said. opening, louversindividually mounted upon said rods to swing about the rod axes, andcoacting in corresponding positions to substantially close said opening,weather strips secured to said frame at opposite sides of said openingand having portions spaced from the frame within said opening, andflexible strips of absorbent material, retained between the frame andsaid portions, in

contact with said rods and impregnated with a lubricant for the rods.

2. A louver construction as set forth in claim 1, one of said absorbentstrips being disposed adjacent each side of said frame and each forminga common means for lubricating all of the rod journals at thecorresponding side of said opening.

3. A louver construction as set forth in claim l, each of said whetherstrips having a hollow guard member extending substantially the fullheight of said opening, and projecting into the opening in rearwardproximity to the louvers. said absorbent strips having portions withinsaid hollow guard members. A y

4. A louver construction as set forth in claim l, said weather stripseach having an opening in its upper portion for renewed lubrication ofsaid absorbent strips.

5. A louver construction comprising a frame forming an opening andhaving a forwardly projecting iiange marginal to said opening, aplurality of rods extending within and across said opening, one aboveanother, and journaled at opposite sides of said opening, louversindividually mounted on said rods to swing about the rod axes, andcoacting in corresponding positions to substantiallyclose said opening,weather strips extending substantially the full height of said openingat the sides thereof, between the frame and louvers, said strips havingtheir forward marginal portions hooked over said flanges, means securingthe front and rear marginal portions of said weather strips to saidanges, said strips being spaced from said flanges between said marginalportions, and a strip of absorbent material extending between eachweather strip and the adjacent flange and contacting with each of saidrods, and impregnated with a lubricant for said rods. Y

6. A louver construction comprising a frame having an opening, aplurality of louvers extending within and across said opening, one aboveanother, and pivotally carried by the frame, a

link connecting the two lowermost louvers for actuation in unison, andhaving a slight rearward inclination from its lower to its upper end,and a link connecting all of said louvers excepting the lowermost foractuation in unison.

EMIL A. MADER.

